OPALS Experiment Beams Down “Hello World” Message

9 June 2014
Last Thursday, NASA successfully beamed a high-definition video 260 miles from the International Space Station to Earth using a new laser communications instrument. Transmission of "Hello, World!" as a video message was the first communication for the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS), a technology demonstration that allows NASA to test methods for communication with future spacecraft. ISS astronaut Reid Wiseman made a pioneering small step in social media by sending the first Vine video from the ISS on Friday. Wiseman wrote, “1st Vine from space! Single Earth orbit. Sun never sets flying parallel w/terminator line.” At the time, the video had already been retweeted over 2,500 times. If researchers can make laser communications feasible in space, it may revolutionize deep space communications. (Image Credit: NASA)More Info > (NBC News)More Info > (KTVU-TV San Francisco)More Info > (CBS News)